The invention relates an appendage attachment having a band of plastically deformable material having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends. The band is wrappable about a user's appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendage until the second end approaches the first end. The appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection. The invention also relates to a method for providing the appendage attachment.

1. An appendage attachment, comprising: a band of plastically deformable material having a first end, a second end, and a length between said first and second ends; said band is wrappable about a user's appendage by positioning said first end proximate to the appendage and extending said length about the appendage until said second end approaches said first end; and wherein the appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.

2. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein said band, when wrapped about the appendage, maintains its position about the appendage without user intervention.

3. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein said band is adjustably positioned in any selected one of a plurality of positions about the appendage without user intervention.

4. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein said band is adjustably positioned about any selected diameter of a plurality of diameters about the appendage without user intervention.

5. The appendage attachment of claim 4, wherein said band is adjustably positioned without a fastener.

6. The appendage attachment of claim 4, wherein said band is removably positioned.

7. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein said limb is a part of an arm.

8. The appendage attachment of claim 1, wherein said limb is a part of a leg.

9. An appendage attachment, comprising: a band of plastically deformable material having a first end, a second end, and a length between said first and second ends; said band is wrappable about a user's appendage by positioning said first end proximate to the appendage and extending said length about the appendage until said second end approaches said first end; a first bead secured to said first end for inhibiting contact between said first end and the appendage; a second bead secured to said second end for inhibiting contact between said second end and the appendage; a cover enclosing a diameter of said length, said cover extending from said first end to said second end for inhibiting contact between said length and the appendage; and wherein the appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.

10. A method for providing an appendage attachment, comprising the steps of: providing a first end, a second end, and a length of plastically deformable material between the first and second ends; wrapping the attachment about a user's appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendage until the second end approaches the first end; and wherein the appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of securing a first bead to the first end for inhibiting contact between the first end and the appendage.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of securing a second bead to the second end for inhibiting contact between the second end and the appendage.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of enclosing a diameter of the length with a cover and extending the cover from the first end to the second end for inhibiting contact between the length and the appendage.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device that may be worn as jewelry and as an aid for maintaining a penile erection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Erectile dysfunction is typically a condition in which a male has difficulty maintaining an erect penis or a sufficiently erect penis for sexual performance. A sexually aroused male usually experiences an increased blood flow to his penis, resulting in an erection. The increased blood flow to the penis normally results in a volume of blood in the penis that is greater than when the penis is in a flaccid state. This increased volume of blood usually enables the penis to maintain an erection until such time the erection is no longer needed.

However, some males have difficulty controlling the flow of blood away from the penis toward the torso, resulting in an inadequately erect penis, or erectile dysfunction. The amount of blood flow away from the penis varies among men having erectile dysfunction and, hence, the extent of the dysfunction varies.

To facilitate maintaining penile erection, traditional constrictor rings or the like have been used to constrict the blood flow away from the penis by placing a tightly fitting ring around a base of the penis. In this position, the rings typically inhibit blood from flowing back toward the torso. Generally, these rings are often made of a resilient material so that the rings may accommodate penises of different diameters.

Although these rings often accomplish their goal of restricting the blood flow away from the penis, such rings may be uncomfortable for males having larger diameter penises. For these males, a ring of resilient material may bind upon the penis, sometimes causing pain. Further, because the rings are often made of resilient materials, they are subject to breakage, particularly over time as the rings are repeatedly stretched and retracted. In addition, resilient materials are normally more porous than non resilient materials and may absorb and retain bodily fluids. This may be especially problematic since these rings often come in direct contact with several different types of bodily fluids. Therefore, the rings may pose a health hazard by being a breeding ground for germs or bacteria.

A further possible disadvantage of a constrictor ring is transporting it in a clean environment until such time it is utilized. In some situations, the male may be in search of a sexual partner and may wish to transport the ring with him because a sexual encounter may result from the search. in these instances, the male often carries the ring in a pocket or wallet, both of which introduces germs, lint, and other foreign objects to come in contact with the ring and which may lead to or augment the above mentioned health hazard. Alternatively, the male may also carry the ring in a carrying case. However, the case may prove to be bulky or cumbersome. Moreover, in certain instances, the male may be concerned that the case may alert others as to its contents, which may lead to embarrassment. Therefore, the male may be dissuaded from using the case to transport the ring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,800 to Rowland seems to disclose an erection truss which is a completed loop of surgical tubing having a male-female fastener assembly for attachment of the ends. However, this patent does not seem to address the possible transporting problems mentioned above. This invention, being made of a stretchable material, also does not seem to address the possible breakage or health hazards described above.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,299 to Maveety appears to disclose jewelry made from a planar form of molded rubber or a molded rubber-like plastic material and having a central portion made of bendable metal. The invention also seems to teach that the rubber-like material surrounding the central portion is quite substantial for encasing the wires that are “folded back to create overall blunt end portions.” (col. 1, lines 42-3). See FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17. Hence, it is possible that this invention may not be effectively used as a constrictor ring to constrict blood flow from the penis toward the torso.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,813 to Weiss appears to disclose an apparatus for maintaining an erection in a male suffering from erectile dysfunction. However, this patent does not seem to address the possible transporting problems mentioned above.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,852,982 to Faris may disclose a resilient ring fastener. However, the ring does not appear to be adjustable to accommodate varying objects placed inside the ring. Also, this patent does not seem to address the possible transporting problems or, because the ring is made of a stretchable material, the possible breakage or health hazards described above.

What is desired, therefore, is a ring to facilitate maintaining penile erection that accommodates penises of varying diameters. What is also desired is a ring that resists breakage despite repeated use. Another desire is a ring that reduces germ and/or bacteria accumulation. A still further desire is a ring that is easily and inconspicuously transportable while reducing possible contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, it is an object of the invention to provide a ring that facilitates a penile erection without impinging or binding upon the penis.

It is another object to provide a ring that accommodates penises of varying diameters.

It is a further embodiment to provide a ring that resists breakage.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a ring that reduces germ and/or bacteria accumulation.

A still further object is to provide a ring that is easily and inconspicuously transportable.

These and other objects are achieved by an appendage attachment having a band of plastically deformable material having a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends. The band is wrappable, or able to be wrapped, about a user's appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendage until the second end approaches the first end. The appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.

The appendage attachment, when wrapped about the appendage, maintains its position about the appendage without user intervention. The appendage attachment is also adjustably positioned in any selected one of a plurality of positions about the appendage without user intervention or a fastener. The attachment is further adjustably positioned about any selected diameter of a plurality of diameters about the appendage without user intervention or a fastener.

In some embodiments, the appendage attachment may be removably interchangeable with other appendage attachments.

Optionally, a first bead may be secured to the first end for inhibiting contact between the first end and the appendage. Likewise, a second bead may be secured to the second end for inhibiting contact between the second end and the appendage. In some of these embodiments, a cover may be included to enclose a diameter of the length, where the cover extends from the first end to the second end for inhibiting contact between the length and the appendage.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for providing an appendage attachment includes the steps of providing a first end, a second end, and a length of plastically deformable material between the first and second ends. The method also includes wrapping the attachment about a user's appendage by positioning the first end proximate to the appendage and extending the length about the appendage until the second end approaches the first end, wherein the appendage is a genitalia or a limb, depending upon the user's selection.

The method may also include the step of securing a first bead to the first end and a second bead to the second end for inhibiting contact between the first and second ends and the appendage.

The method may also include enclosing a diameter of the length with a cover and extending the cover from the first end to the second end for inhibiting contact between the length and the appendage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a depicts the attachment in accordance with the invention being wrapped about an appendage.

FIG. 1b depicts the attachment in accordance with the invention being wrapped about an appendage of a different diameter than the appendage of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 depicts the attachment of FIGS. 1a and 1b before it is wrapped about an appendage.

FIG. 3 depicts a method of providing the attachment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 1b depict appendage attachment 10 in accordance with the invention. Attachment 10 includes first bead 20, second bead 30, and length 40 between first and second beads 20, 30. Length is made of a plastically deformable material and first and second beads 20, 30 each include a spherically shaped object to protect a limb or genitalia from direct contact with proximal and distal ends 50, 52 of length 40, where proximal and distal ends 50, 52 may be rough or sharp.

A plastically deformable material is defined to mean a material that is malleable, or bendable, but does not return to its shape prior to being bent. Hence, once bent from a first position to a second position, the material remains in the second position without user intervention or objects holding the material in the second position. The deformable material may include a wire with insulation surrounding the wire to protect the appendage from contacting the wire. For example, a copper wire of 12 gauge may be used with standard insulation that surrounds the wire. Rubber or other resilient material would not constitute a plastically deformable material because they have a tendency to return to a retracted state or, in the above example, the first position.

As shown in FIGS. 1a-1b, attachment 10 is adjustable to be wrapped about appendages of varying sizes. Although two appendages are shown, attachment 10 may accommodate any sized appendage provided attachment 10 may encircle the appendage at least once. In some cases, attachment 10 need only be wrapped about a portion of a diameter, or less than one diameter, of the appendage to sufficiently constrict blood flow.

As shown in FIG. 1a, the appendage may be a limb, such as an arm, wrist, leg, or ankle. Wrapping attachment 10 around the limb permits a wearer to easily transport attachment 10 without a separate case or container, which may be bulky or cumbersome. Moreover, attachment 10 may be aesthetically pleasing to be used to adorn the limb, where attachment 10 may further include decorative indicia or various colors.

Optionally, electrical energy may be applied to attachment to facilitate achieving and/or maintaining penile erection. The electrical energy may be in the form of an electrical shock or pulse to attachment 10. A power source, such as a battery or connection to an electrical outlet, is connected to a transducer, which translates electrical energy to mechanical energy, such as causing attachment 10 to vibrate or move. The transducer is in communication with attachment 10.

Although a spherically shaped object is placed at each first and second beads 20, 30, any smoothly shaped object may be used so long as the object covers, and inhibits contact between the appendage and, proximal and distal ends 50, 52. Other shapes or objects may include an elliptical bead. Another requirement of the bead is that it does not introduce sharp corners which may scar the appendage, such as a square or triangular bead. Moreover, the beads may include various colors and/or indicia to adorn attachment 10. Beads 20, 30 are attached using any known or novel manner of attachment to length 40, including adhesive or fasteners. Although beads 20, 30 are shown to be metallic material, any strong materials resistant to breakage may be used, such as plastic, copper, bronze, iron, and the like.

Because length 40 is made of a plastically deformable material, the material does not stretch and/or retract similar to a resilient material and, therefore, is not as porous as a resilient material. Hence, there is a lesser likely for length 40 to absorb solid, gaseous, or liquid matter than a length made of resilient material, resulting in a reduced likelihood for length 40 to absorb bodily matter and a reduced likelihood of contamination and health hazards.

Additionally, because length 40 and beads 20, 30 are shown and described to be made of metallic materials or other strong materials, attachment 10 is resistant to breakage.

FIG. 3 depicts method 100 for utilizing attachment 10. Attachment 10 is wrapped to an appendage, such as a limb, by providing 102 an appendage, placing 104 first bead 20 proximate to the limb, extending 106 or bending length 40 of attachment 10 about the limb, and approaching 108 the first bead with the second bead. The wrapped position is shown in FIG. 1a. These same steps of method 100 are applied for applying attachment 10 to a base of a penis. Because the diameter of the penis is usually less than the diameter of the limb, length 40 may be extended 106 or bent about the penis for more than one cycle. See FIG. 1b.

It is understood that attachment 10 is adjustable to accommodate any diameter by merely reversing and applying the above mentioned steps. Further, the tension is adjustable as well to any one of a plurality of tensions. In addition, once adjusted to the desired diameter and tension, attachment 10 facilitates maintaining the desired diameter and tension without user intervention or foreign objects to hold attachment 10 in place.